CATCH JAPAN

Explore a colorful variety of modern Japan’s most popular topics, including food, technology, ecology and regional promotions, with a focus on the innovative ideas and passionate effort from the people behind it all.

J-FOOD

Hiroshima is one of Japan’s major cities. As winter arrives, seasonal delicacies using local ingredients delight everyone that try them. Food writer Rachel Nicholson from the US tries Hiroshima’s delectable oysters. We’ll also highlight Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki, a local favorite. This segment explores Hiroshima’s delicacies and their fascinating origins.

J-BIZ

The Tokyo Metropolitan Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center provides support to businesses in Tokyo. In the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has received more than 30,000 business consultations. Prior to the pandemic, products that combine tradition and innovation sold like hotcakes in international trade shows. Today, the inbound tourism market that was worth over 1.2 trillion yen in souvenirs, etc. has fallen to just 20%, and shops and manufacturers of these goods continue to struggle. This segment follows the center’s efforts to support such businesses.

J-FOOD

Competition is fierce within the Japanese confectionery market, with companies continuously pursuing distinctive looks and new flavors. Glico, a company with a history of over 100 years, has strived to produce sweets and snacks that are both delicious and nutritious. Through their founding philosophy that good taste is a habit that can lead to better health, this segment explores Japan's unique confectionery industry.

J-TOWN

This segment features the city of Okawa, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, southern Japan. Okawa developed as Japan's largest furniture production area over many years. Its traditional Kumiko woodwork, for example, is used in luxury trains. One of the area’s major companies, Seki Furniture, employs a new technique for single-piece wooden tables, made with the commitment to make the most use of every piece of wood. Okawa’s wooden furniture industry also has initiatives to teach the importance of trees to children through tree planting activities.